AT AROUND 4.30pm on Saturday afternoon, Hull City were a side sinking ominously into trouble.
Trailing 2-0 to Fulham with a quarter of an hour to play, a relegation fight they thought had been left behind was dragging them back in. The Tigers had been far from convincing. At times, downright poor.
But when an attacking line is led by Shane Long and Nikica Jelavic, two proven internationals, there is always cause for hope. And so it proved again at Craven Cottage.
Once Jelavic had profited from the pressure of Long bringing out a wild clearance from Sascha Riether, converting a simple header off the bar, there was time and inspiration for a late equaliser.
Sone Aluko's searching cross into the box was perfect and Long was on hand to beat David Stockdale with a clinical low header. The Republic of Ireland international was the coolest man in the ground.
Steve Bruce felt his side deserved a point but it was ultimately Long who came along with the keys to get his side out of jail.
This was the latest in a line of big goals for City.
Long's first helped bring a point at home to Spurs, before his second and third contributed towards precious wins over drop rivals Sunderland and West Brom.
A fourth came late on Saturday and granted his side another season in the Premier League.
Long has justified the faith and persistence of Bruce already. More will be needed to fulfil a price-tag that could eventually rise to £6.5m with add-ons, but the likeable forward is well on his way.
As Saturday's compelling draw underlined, there is much to admire. The pace, movement and direct running causes defenders problems each week and Fulham were no different.
A better delivery inside the final third and his runs could have brought reward, while a shove from Fernando Amorebieta could have brought a penalty. Contact was not emphatic but enough to curtail Long in full flow. Amorebieta was fortunate to escape a red card and rubbed salt in the wound when scoring Fulham's second, but would be denied the last laugh by Long.
A dangerous run spotted by Aluko inadvertently set up Jelavic off the crossbar, before he tapped into the same wavelength to peel off and nod in a deep cross. A simple chance but one he was never likely to miss.
Long's goalscoring exploits have not been spectacular in City colours, but would be enough to see him in double figures over the course of the season. Four in 13 is the same as a dozen or so in an injury-free season.
That will be the aim from August onwards and, thanks to Long, those targets will be set in the top flight.
